THE beautiful surroundings of the Priory Church at Bolton Abbey provided a stunning setting for a family event with story-telling and a spectacular fire artist.

What's the Story about the Holy Spirit? was performed by story tellers from the Priory Church in what is believed to be the first event of its kind at the priory.

Stunning fire shows, performed by Beckie Hastings, took place throughout the afternoon next to the River Wharfe to attract families into the priory precinct to hear the story telling.

And in front of visitors, who were enjoying a fine, summer afternoon, the story tellers recounted the story of Pentecost and the miraculous events of the early church.

Simon Cowling, the Rector of Bolton Abbey, said: "It was great to see so many families out enjoying the summer weather and engaging with the priory’s latest outdoor event, next year will see the return of the mystery play.”

Curate Jonathan Cain, who took part in the event, said to the best of his knowledge, it was the first one of its kind at the priory.

"It fits into that part of the priory's strategic vision, which is about outdoor evangelism the Mystery Play, relaunched last year after an around ten year absence is also part of this theme."

He said the idea was to do the mystery play every two years - with dates already set for next year in July.

"This year's event was an experiment with something different in the in the 'off years' - the crowds certainly appreciated the fire entertainer; nobody who visited the Priory environs on Sunday afternoon can have failed to notice that the church was up to something."

He added that feedback from people who had seen what was happening had been very good, with visitors engaging with the storytelling and the crafts, and receiving a free jigsaw.

Bolton Priory is one of the finest medieval churches in the North of England. Since its foundation in the 12th century, it has been a site of continuous Christian worship, surviving Scottish raids, the Black Death, the dissolution of the monasteries and the religious turbulence of later centuries. Throughout the years, men and women have been baptised, married and have worshipped within the precincts.

It has also been a favourite subject matter of artists - including Romantic artist, JMW Turner, who painted several watercolours of the priory ruins in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and Edwin Landseer, in the 19th century.